Head-to-head comparison
Albany Technical College vs Fortis College-Smyrna: which has better ROI?
Option A Albany, GA
Albany Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,524
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,541
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Smyrna, GA
Fortis College-Smyrna
- Net price / year
- $23,657
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,368
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fortis College-Smyrna comes closer — median earnings $36,368 against a $94,628 total, vs $30,541 at Albany Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany Technical College | Fortis College-Smyrna |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,524 | $23,657 |
| Total net cost | $18,096 | $94,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,541 | $36,368 |
| Median debt | $12,412 | $12,547 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$374,476 | -$334,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Albany Technical College or Fortis College-Smyrna?
Albany Technical College, at $4,524 a year after aid versus $23,657 — a gap of $19,133 a year, or $76,532 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Albany Technical College or Fortis College-Smyrna graduates earn more?
Fortis College-Smyrna graduates report a median $36,368 ten years after entry, $5,827 more than the $30,541 at Albany Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Albany Technical College or Fortis College-Smyrna?
Albany Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,412 in federal loans versus $12,547 at Fortis College-Smyrna, a difference of $135. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
59% of students finish at Fortis College-Smyrna, against 42% at Albany Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.